Print system, print device and print instruction method

Abstract

A print system (0001) includes a print instruction device (0101), a print device (0102) and a print data supply device (0103). The print instruction device (0101) has a print instruction device (0111) which transmits, to the print device (0102), authentication information and a print instruction of print data in a print data supply device (0103). The print device (0102) has a print data requesting unit (0112) which transmits the authentication information according to the print instruction to the print data supply device (0103) and requests a transmission of print data, and a print data receiving unit (0113) which receives the print data from the print data supply device (0103).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a method of instructing a print device to print print data, in particular to a print system and a print device which receives the print instruction in the case where print data through a communication path needs to be protected, when the print device receives print data directly from a supplier of the print data.BACKGROUND ART[0002]According to recent rapid expansion of broadband environment, a distribution service such as a music distribution service and a moving picture distribution service with which a user can receive and reproduce contents from a service server on the Internet has been widely available. It is expected that such distribution service will be applied to print content from now on and developing to a print content distribution service in which print content is distributed from a server on the Internet to each terminal.[0003]An existing print device such as an inkjet printer is connected only to a control device s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]In order to solve the mentioned problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide, in the case where a print device obtains print data via a communication network (pull-printer), a print system, print device and a print instruction method that are capable of preventing a leakage of the charged content (print data) and the authentication information through the communication network.

[0019]As described in the above, according to the present invention, the encrypted print data can be transmitted and received by a communication path between the print device and the print data supply device so that the leakage of the print data in the communication path can be prevented.

[0022]As described in the above, according to the present invention, the print data supply device can identify a print instruction device or a user of the print system so that unauthorized access to the print data can be prevented.

[0023]In particular, in the case where a SSL or a TSL that are described later are established between the print device and the print data supply device using the authentication information, both of the leakage of the print data in the communication path and unauthorized access to the print data can be prevented.

[0024]Thus, the present invention can embody a print instruction method and a printer device which can establish a secure communication between a service server and a printer and instruct so as to obtain print content (data) using the established communication path.

Problems solved by technology

In the existing print system in which the print device is the slave device, the print device does not directly obtain print content on a device other than the control device.

In this case, the control device needs to bypass the print content so that it causes an increase of processing loads and network loads on the control device.

Therefore, the charged content faces dangers such as an illegal access to the service server 0003 and a tapping of the content by a malicious third party.

On the other hand, when the information pieces do not match one another as the result of the verification, the service server transmits to the user an indication that the sent authentication information does not match with the registered authentication information, and refuses to allow the user to access the content.

In addition, a user ID or a device ID (e.g. ID of DTV) included in the authentication information can be cheated by anyone if the person knows the ID so that the unitary use of the information is insufficient as the authentication information.

However, at this moment, there is no print system or print device that can instruct to obtain the print content (data) using a communication path by establishing the secure communication path between the print device and the service server by the printer.

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